Peach tree named &#39;PEARL PRINCESS IV&#39;

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree,  Prunus persica , broadly characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The variety blooms during the early to mid season and requires about 450 chilling hours. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in the latter part of June, with first picking on Jun. 20, 2014. The fruit is uniform, large in size, globose to oblate in shape, freestone in type, firm and melting in texture, pinkish white in flesh color, full red in skin color, and a tasty balance of light acid and sugar in flavor.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Prunus persica

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘PEARL PRINCESS IV’

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

In a continuing effort to improve the quality of shipping fruits, I, the inventor, typically hybridize a large number of peach, nectarine, plum, apricot, and cherry seedlings each year. I also grow a smaller number of open pollinated seeds of each of these fruits, usually to capture recessive traits. The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of peach tree, which has been denominated varietally as ‘Pearl Princess IV’.

The present variety was hybridized by me in 2000 as a first generation cross using ‘Snow Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) peach as the selected seed parent and an unnamed yellow flesh nectarine (unpatented) as the selected pollen parent. The fruit of this cross was gathered that summer, and the seeds were removed, cracked, stratified, germinated, and grown as seedlings on their own root in my greenhouse. Upon reaching dormancy the seedlings were transplanted as a group to a cultivated area of my experimental orchard located near Le Grand, Calif., in Merced County (San Joaquin Valley). During the fruit evaluation season of 2006 I selected the present variety as a single tree from the group of seedlings described above. Subsequent to origination of the present variety of peach tree, I asexually reproduced it by budding and grafting in the experimental orchard described above, and such reproductions were true to the original tree in all respects. The reproduction of the variety included the use of ‘Nemaguard’ (unpatented) rootstock upon which the present variety was compatible and true to type.

The present variety is similar to its seed parent ‘Snow Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) peach, by having a vigorous tree, by having large blossoms that bloom in the early to mid season, by having reniform leaf glands, by being self-fertile, and by producing white flesh freestone peaches that are large in size, mostly red in skin color, globose in shape, very good in flavor, and firm in texture, but is distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that matures about thirty days earlier and that has a flavor that is a balance between light acid and sugar, rather than sub-acidic.

The present variety is most similar to ‘Pearl Princess V’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,919) peach, by having a vigorous tree with large blossoms and reniform leaf glands, being self-fertile, and producing white flesh freestone peaches that are mostly red in skin color, globose to oblate in shape, firm in texture, and very good in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that matures about seven days later and is somewhat larger in size.

SUMMARY OF VARIETY

In summary, the present peach variety is characterized by a medium size, vigorous, hardy, self-fertile, productive and regular bearing tree. The variety blooms during the early to mid season and requires about 450 chilling hours. The fruit matures under the ecological conditions described in the latter part of June, with first picking on Jun. 20, 2014. The fruit is uniform, large in size, globose to oblate in shape, freestone in type, firm and melting in texture, pinkish white in flesh color, full red in skin color, and a tasty balance of light acid and sugar in flavor.

DRAWING

The accompanying photograph consists of four whole fruits positioned to display the characteristics of the skin color and form, one divided fruit to reveal the flesh and stone, two insets to reveal buds and blossoms, a typical tip shoot and typical leaves.

POMOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Referring now more specifically to the pomological characteristics of this new and distinct variety of peach tree, the following has been observed under the ecological conditions prevailing near Le Grand, Merced County (San Joaquin Valley), Calif., and was developed at the state of firm ripe on Jun. 24, 2014, on a multiplied tree during its seventh growing season. The blossom and flower descriptions were made the previous blooming season. All major color code designations are by reference to the Inter-Society Color Council, National Bureau of Standards. Common color names are also used occasionally.

It is to be noted that 2014 was an abnormal year with drought conditions existing in California. The unusually clear, warm, and dry weather in January led to a very low amount of acquired chilling units, an earlier than normal blooming season, and an earlier than normal ripening season for the entire spring and summer.

-   Parentage:     -   -   Seed parent.—‘Snow Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570)             peach.         -   Pollen parent.—Unnamed nectarine (unpatented). -   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Medium, reaching and maintaining a height of 10′ [3.05             m.] and a spread of 9′ [2.74 m.] after seven growing seasons             utilizing typical dormant pruning.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous, responding typically to irrigation and             fertilization. The variety grows about 3′ [0.91 m.] of             surplus top-growth during the spring and summer. The plant             should be grown on a standard. commercial rootstock for             production purposes.         -   Growth.—Upright and dense.         -   Form.—Vase formed.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to central California winters.         -   Heat tolerance.—Observed to perform adequately in typical             central California climatic conditions, which typically             include extended periods of heat.         -   Drought tolerance.—Variety is developed for commercial             orchards and requires regular irrigation.         -   Production.—Productive, thinning necessary.         -   Fertility.—Self-fertile.         -   Bearing.—Regular bearer with no alternate bearing yet             observed.         -   Approximate chilling requirement.—450 hours.         -   Trunk.—Size. — Medium, reaching a maximum diameter of 5″             [127 mm.] after the seventh growing season. Texture. —             Shaggy. Bark Color. — Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr] with             Moderate brown [58. m.Br] crevices present. Lenticels. —             Approximate Number Per Square Inch: 8. Color: Moderate             orange [53. m.O]. Size: ¼″ [6.4 mm.] to ½″ [12.7 mm.] in             length. Width is typically one fourth as much as the length.             Shape: Eye-shaped, elongated.         -   Branches.—Size. — Medium, diameter of main scaffold is 3″             [76.2 mm.] measured 12″ above the crotch, diameter of limb             is 1¾″ [44.5 mm.] measured 12″ above the first fork.             Texture. — Medium, shaggy. Color. — 1st Year Wood Topside:             Grayish red [19. gy.R]. 1st Year Wood Underside: Brilliant             yellow green [116. brill.YG]. 2nd Year and Older Wood: Deep             yellowish brown [75. deep yBr]. Lenticels. — Number Per             Square Inch: About 90 on second year wood. Color: Moderate             orange yellow [71. m.OY]. Size: Small, 1/64″ [0.4 mm.] to ⅛″             [3.2 mm.] in length on second year wood. Width is typically             one fourth as much as the length. Shape: Rectangular,             elongated.         -   Leaves.—Size. — Medium. Average Length: 5¼″ [133 mm.].             Average Width: 1½″ [38 mm.]. Arrangement. — Alternate.             Thickness. — Medium. Form. — Elliptical. Apex. — Acuminate.             Base. — Rounded to slightly acute. Surface. — Smooth. Color.             — Dorsal Surface: Moderate olive green [125. m.OlG]. Ventral             Surface: Moderate yellow green [120. m.YG]. Margin. — Finely             serrate. Venation. — Pinnately net veined. Vein Color. —             Pale yellow green [121. p.YG]. Petiole. — Average Length: ⅜″             [9.5 mm.]. Average Thickness: 1/16″ [1.6 mm.]. Color:             Brilliant yellow green [116. brill.YG]. Stipules. — Number:             Typically 2 per leaf at development stage. Average Length:             ¼″ [6.4 mm.]. Color: Deep yellow green [118. deep YG]             becoming Dark olive green [126. d.OlG] with maturity.             Glands. — Number: 2 to 4 per leaf. Position: Oppositely             positioned on the petiole, with the glands having a slight             offset but not alternate. Size: Medium, about 1/24″ [1.1             mm.] in length. Form: Reniform. Color: Deep yellow green             [118. deep YG] becoming Moderate brown [58. m.Br] with age.             Leaf Buds. — Pointed, medium in size.         -   Flower buds.—Hardiness. — Hardy, with respect to central             California winters. Diameter. — Typically ⅜″ [9.5 mm.] 1             week before bloom. Length. — Typically ⅝″ [15.9 mm.] 1 week             before bloom. Form. — Not appressed. Surface. — Pubescent.             Tip Color. — Light purplish pink [249. l.pPk].         -   Flowers.—Perfect, complete, perigynous, usually a single             pistil, about thirty stamens, five sepal and petal locations             alternately positioned. Type. — Showy, medium to large.             Average Flower Diameter. — 1¾″ [44.5 mm.]. Average Flower             Depth. — 7/16″ [11.1 mm.] when fully open. Number of Petals.             — Five, extra petal fragments are observed on about ten             percent, double blossoms not observed. Petal Shape. —             Circular to oval. Petal Margin. — Entire, wavy. Average             Petal Diameter. — ¾″ [19.1 mm.]. Average Petal Length. — ¾″             [19.1 mm.]. Petal Apex. — Rounded. Petal Base. — Rounded.             Petal Color. — Pale pink [7. p.Pk] throughout on both sides.             Anther Color. — Moderate reddish orange [37. m.rO] over a             Light yellow [86. l.Y] center at bloom onset. Pollen. —             Anthers produce an abundance of Brilliant yellow [83.             brill.Y] pollen. Stigma Color. — Light greenish yellow [101.             l.gY]. Stigma Position. — Typically located about even with             the nearby anthers. Ovary. — Pubescent. Sepal Color. — Dark             purplish red [259. d.pR] on the outer surface. The inner             surface is a somewhat translucent Pinkish white [9. pkWhite]             with both Grayish purplish red [262. gy.pR] and Vivid yellow             green [115. v.YG] areas visible. Sepal Length. — ¼″ [6.4             mm.]. Sepal Width. — 7/32″ [5.6 mm.]. Sepal Apex. — Rounded             to elliptical to match the sepal length and width. Sepal             Margin. — Fairly smooth. Sepal Outer Surface. — Pubescent.             Average Pistil Length. — ⅝″ [15.9 mm.]. Average Stamen             Length. — ½″ [12.7 mm.]. Fragrance. — Moderate. Blooming             Period. — Early to medium, blooms two days after ‘Snow             Princess’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,570) peach. Onset of             Bloom. — One percent on Feb. 8, 2014. Date of Full Bloom. —             Feb. 15, 2014. Duration of Bloom. — One to two weeks,             dependent on ambient temperature. Number per cluster. — 1 to             3 with single flowers most common. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe, Jun. 24, 2014.         -   Date of first picking.—Jun. 20, 2014.         -   Date of last picking.—Jun. 29, 2014.         -   Size.—Uniform, large. Average Diameter Axially. — 3 3/16″             [81.0 mm.]. Average Diameter Across Suture Plane. — 3⅜″             [85.7 mm.]. Average Diameter Across Cheek Plane. — 3⅜″ [85.7             mm.]. Typical Weight. — 12.0 ounces [340 grams].         -   Form.—Uniform, globose to somewhat oblate, compressed             axially, slightly asymmetrical. Longitudinal Section Form. —             Round to somewhat oblate. Axial View. — Elliptical to round.         -   Suture.—An inconspicuous line located in a very shallow             groove extending from the base to just beyond the pistil             point. Near the Base. — A shallow groove. Along the Side. —             Protruding on one side with no groove. Near the Apex. — A             shallow groove.         -   Ventral surface.—Rounded with a slight breast on some.         -   Lips.—Lipped on one side along the ventral surface and             equally on both sides near the apex.         -   Cavity.—Flaring, slightly elongated in the suture plane,             suture showing on one side, Pale yellow [89. p.Y] stem             markings typical. Depth. — ⅝″ [15.9 mm.]. Breadth. — 1⅛″             [28.6 mm.].         -   Base.—Somewhat truncate and slightly oblique.         -   Apex.—Rounded to slightly truncate, somewhat cordate if             viewed parallel to suture.         -   Pistil point.—Oblique, negligible in length, usually             depressed within the suture.         -   Stem.—Medium. Average Length. — ⅜″ [9.5 mm.]. Average Width.             — 3/16″ [4.8 mm.].         -   Skin.—Thickness. — Medium. Surface. — Pubescent. Down. —             Short, does not roll up when rubbed. Tenacity. — Tenacious             to flesh. Astringency. — Non-astringent. Tendency to Crack.             — None observed in dry season. Color. — Dark red [16. d.R]             over a Strong red [12. s.R] background.         -   Flesh.—Color. — Pinkish white [9. pkWhite] acquiring some             Moderate red [15. m.R] streaking toward stone and Moderate             red [15. m.R] flecking throughout with increased maturity.             Surface of Pit Cavity. — Covered with Light yellowish pink             [28. l.yPk] fibers. Amygdalin. — Scarce. Juice. — Moderate,             rich. Texture. — Firm, melting. Fibers. — Few, fine, tender.             Ripens. — Fairly even, slightly earliest at apex. Flavor. —             A tasty balance of acid and sugar, typically 16 to 18 brix.             Aroma. — Slight. Eating Quality. — Very good. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Freestone.         -   Form.—Oval.         -   Hilum.—Narrow.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Apex.—Acute, with a 1/16″ [1.6 mm.] tip length.         -   Sides.—Equal.         -   Surface.—Irregularly furrowed toward the apex, pitted toward             the base.         -   Ridges.—Rounded.         -   External color.—Dark yellowish brown [78. d.yBr].         -   Pit wall color when cracked.—Moderate yellowish brown [77.             m.yBr].         -   Cavity surface color.—Strong yellowish brown [74. s.yBr].         -   Average pit wall thickness.—¼″ [6.4 mm.].         -   Average width.—1″ [25.4 mm.].         -   Average length.—1¼″ [31.8 mm.].         -   Average breadth.—¾″ [19.1 mm.].         -   Tendency to split.—None observed.         -   Kernel.—Form. — Oval. Skin Color. — Pale yellow [89. p.Y]             when first removed. Pellicle Color. — Light yellow [86.             l.Y]. Vein Color. — Brilliant yellow [83. brill.Y]. Taste. —             Bitter. Viable. — Yes. Average Width. — 1/2″ [12.7 mm.].             Average Length. — 5/8″ [15.9 mm.]. Amygdalin. — Moderate. -   Use:     -   -   Market.—Fresh market and long distance shipping.         -   Keeping quality.—Good, fruit quality observed to remain in             good condition after 17 days in standard cold room at 36°             Fahrenheit [2° Celsius].         -   Shipping quality.—Good.         -   Resistance to insects.—No unusual susceptibilities noted.         -   Resistance to diseases.—No unusual susceptibilities noted. -   Other notes: Although the new variety of peach tree possesses the     described characteristics under the ecological conditions at Le     Grand, California, in the central part of the San Joaquin Valley, it     is to be expected that variations in these characteristics may occur     when farmed in areas with different climatic conditions, different     soil types, and/or varying cultural practices. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach tree, substantially as illustrated and described, that is most similar to ‘Pearl Princess V’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,919) peach, by having a vigorous tree with large blossoms and reniform leaf glands, being self-fertile, and producing white flesh freestone peaches that are mostly red in skin color, globose to oblate in shape, firm in texture, and very good in flavor, but is distinguished therefrom by producing fruit that matures about seven days later and is somewhat larger in size. 